Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 636

Posted on Friday 3 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Picture in Time today returns to Blackpool as we take a look at Brush Railcoach 636 at a time when it carried a livery styled on the wartime green and cream in 1992.

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Going for a ride…

Posted on Friday 3 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It is time again for us to take our weekly look at just where in the UK you can enjoy a ride on a traditional tramcar over the next seven days. With the summer now definitely here and the school holidays fast approaching, there aren’t that many big tram events in the next few weeks and the week ahead is a particularly quiet one – although that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of opportunities to go for a ride anyway!

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A bridge for Beamish

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Although not directly relevant to trams, a recent addition to the massive collection of historic objects at Beamish Museum seemed interesting enough to warrant mention here. The museum has recently obtained a bridge dating from 1863 which was donated by Network Rail after being out of use for some time.

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Things that go bump in Cleveleys

Posted on Thursday 2 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

A road traffic collision involving a tram and a motor car at Cleveleys Square caused considerable disruption to tram services in Blackpool on Thursday 2nd July. Whilst the emergency services attended to the incident the tram service was terminated at Little Bispham whilst road traffic was also diverted for a time.

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Delays after contractor hits cable at St Peter’s Square

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

No sooner had the work at St Peter’s Square got started in earnest then Manchester Metrolink services came to a standstill after a contractor struck an uncharted cable during excavation works. The incident meant that a complete power failure was experienced at approximately 0830 on Monday 29th June leading to Metrolink services being suspended for approximately 30 minutes (with the Eccles line being affected for longer). Delays were also caused to traffic as a tram was stranded blocking London Road when the power failure hit. A statement was released apologising for the delays caused with Peter Cushing, TfGM Metrolink Director, commenting: “I want to apologise to those people affected by this morning’s incident. This caused significant and unacceptable disruption for commuters and I want to make it clear that I will be taking this up at the highest level with the contractor to understand how it happened, and to ensure it does not happen again. Repair work will take place overnight.”

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In Pictures: Latest on Supertram rail replacement works

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest phase of rail replacement works on Stagecoach Supertram have now commenced with the first stage of these works being on South Street Bridge between the delta junction and Sheffield Station. As a result of these works trams on the Blue route from Malin Bridge are being diverted to run onto the Yellow route as far as Cricket Inn Road with the trams then running into the depot to reverse. These works are due to continue until the end of this week after which time Blue route trams will run through to Sheffield Station which will act as the terminus until the end of August. Photos showing the work which has been undertaken this week so far are provided by Stuart Cooke.

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NET Citadis to be named Stephen Lowe

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest name to be added to a tram on Nottingham Express Transit is to be Stephen Lowe, a playwright who comes from Nottingham. Mr Lowe is said to be “Nottingham’s most successful playwright…ever” and has had over 40 plays and screenplays publically performed including one on fellow NET namee Brian Clough. He has also written many episodes of Coronation Street.

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It’s a yes to bikes on Edinburgh Trams

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

Following a successful two month trial it has been confirmed that bikes will be allowed to on board Edinburgh Trams permanently. During the trial, which was initially for one month but this was extended to two for further data to be collected, an average of 12 bikes a day were carried on the trams with the most popular boarding point being York Place.

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But it’s a no for dogs on Metrolink

Posted on Wednesday 1 July 2015 by Gareth Prior

A report is recommending that non-assistance dogs should not be carried on Manchester Metrolink following a lengthy consultation into whether it would be possible. The report has identified a number of key risks which raise concerns over both the safety of passengers and the welfare of dogs.

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Bolton 66 gets the blues

Posted on Tuesday 30 June 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Bolton 66 is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive trams in Blackpool, and for summer 2015 the tram has a new look thanks to some recently applied adverts for a brand new sponsor. Having last operated sans adverts as recently as Saturday 20th June, 66 was out again with blue advert banners applied just ten days later.

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Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 2

Posted on Tuesday 30 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today “Picture in Time” is heading across the Irish Sea again and finds itself on the Isle of Man for a view of one of the original two trams still in existence – no. 2.

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 28 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

More photos for you this week as we visit Midland Metro, Nottingham Express Transit and Blackpool:

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Brush 290 to go undercover

Posted on Sunday 28 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Brush 290 which has spent the past three years on display adjacent to the Pleasure Beach loop in a variety of guises is set to enjoy undercover storage for the first time since 2012 as part of an agreement between its owners the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust, Blackpool Transport and the Blackpool Heritage Trust. It is expected that the tram will be transported the short distance to Rigby Road later this year and replaced by Centenary 641 which will be the centerpiece of a Blackpool FC centered display for the 2015 Illuminations.

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Metrolink Transformation work starts at St Peter’s Square

Posted on Sunday 28 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest phase of Transformation work on Manchester Metrolink has started at St Peter’s Square with services through this location now set to be disrupted for 14 months. No trams at all will be running through St Peter’s Square from Sunday 28th June for eight weeks as the first stage of works is undertaken and then following the completion of this stage another year of disruption will be experienced by passengers as the stop is transformed to have four platform faces for services on both the original cross city line and the Second City Crossing.

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Manx Heritage Transport Festival – the details

Posted on Sunday 28 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

It is now little over a month until the annual Manx Heritage Transport Festival takes place on the Isle of Man which seems an opportune moment for a quick round-up of just what is due to happen and when between 29th July and 2nd August. Once again in 2015 there are plenty of events to keep visiting enthusiasts entertained with the Manx Electric Railway featuring heavily alongside the Isle of Man Steam Railway.

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Picture in Time: Stagecoach Supertram 104 & 121

Posted on Sunday 28 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

We head back to Sheffield for our latest “Picture in Time” feature as we show not one but two trams in action on the – by now – Stagecoach Supertram network in 2000.

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In Pictures: Metrolink’s M5000 3100 enters service

Posted on Saturday 27 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

As expected Manchester Metrolink’s latest M5000 entered service on Saturday 27th June. After the launch ceremony at Trafford Depot the previous day 3100 was allocated to service on the Piccadilly to MediaCityUK circuit – one of the routes which is diagrammed using trams allocated to Trafford Depot which is where the tram now calls home. Who would have thought when Metrolink opened in 1992 that just 23 years later there would be a fleet of 100 trams – none of which were part of the fleet back then?! With thanks to Steve Kemp for the photos.

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In Pictures: Stadler 2560 starts testing

Posted on Friday 26 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

Since arriving in Croydon at the start of May little has been reported of 2560 which is the first of the second batch of Stadler Variobahn’s for operation on London Tramlink but after several weeks of commissioning the tram has now ventured onto the mainline for the start of the extensive testing process.

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First Tram-Train for Sheffield nears completion

Posted on Friday 26 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

The first of seven Tram-Trains for use on Stagecoach Supertram is nearing completion in Spain with the first pictures of the vehicle under construction having recently been released on social media by Supertram. The seven vehicles are being built by Vossloh at their factor near Valencia and the first is due to be delivered to Sheffield in November once initial testing has taken place.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Jubilee 761

Posted on Friday 26 June 2015 by Gareth Prior

The latest subject of “Picture in Time” is Blackpool Jubilee 761 as we take a look at a couple of images taken of the tram back in 1984 whilst it was operating on the Fleetwood to Starr Gate service.

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